The electric bike is booming. We like its green side which reinforces our desire to preserve the environment and especially its practical aspect in our travels. A little everywhere on the planet, city dwellers tend to use it more and more to replace the automobile, as much as possible. This is to say how much the Nespresso company is timely with its latest innovation.
The title of this column is not just a play on words. Recycled Nespresso coffee capsules could very well be transformed into electric bike parts soon. And when we say soon, we mean summer 2024. In Europe, at least.
The idea was born in Switzerland by the bicycle brand Miloo, which is currently collaborating with the famous company Nespresso to design an e-bike that would be both powerful and environmentally friendly.
The Swiss company is already well aware of environmental efforts. This year, it wants to go even further by adapting its Miloo Xplorer Beast model, an electric mountain bike that offers maximum performance both on and off-road, and is made from a fancy carbon fiber frame.
However, in its new version, the frames and rims of the bike would no longer be made of carbon, but of recycled coffee pods.
Drink your coffee without guilt
The Nespresso coffee brand may have many fans, but everyone knows very well that its aluminum capsules, once used, become bulky waste that is harmful to the environment, despite the company’s numerous efforts to ensure that certain parts of the capsule are recyclable.
And when we know the number of pods that can be used day after day by coffee lovers around the world, the consequences are not trivial, quite the contrary.
Now, the new partnership between Nespresso and Miloo could allow fans to drink their coffee without guilt.
Additionally, the fact that Nespresso is supplying its recycled aluminum to Miloo to build the frames and rims of its new electric bikes directly aligns with the values of the bicycle company, which is already no stranger to recycled materials.
The company will make several other components of its new bike with recycled plastic, including tires, saddles and handles. Even the paint and packaging of the bicycles contain recycled materials, that’s saying something.
With all these innovations, Miloo is trying to become a kind of role model. It tries to convince other companies to do the same by developing vehicles that are ever more respectful of the environment, and likely to be a good means of transportation in addition to cars.
The meeting of ambitions
In this new adventure, Miloo found a partner who was in much the same position in its ambition to become greener. For the sake of conscience and to give a better image of its coffee capsules, the Nespresso company is also already used to recycling.
It has been 12 years since the coffee company launched its program called “Recycling at Home” in Switzerland. In partnership with the postal service, this program allows you to collect used capsules at 3,700 collection points to deliver them to its own recycling plant. According to the company, it recycles around 72% of all Nespresso capsules used in this country.
The Miloo Xplorer Beast can therefore boast of being ultra-conscious of the environment, but the company has not forgotten its power.
To appeal to both e-bike users and environmentalists, the bike maker will use a 1,000-watt electric motor; the bike will be able to go up to 45 kilometers per hour and will be fitted with maxi off-road tires. Add to that the motor will use a torque sensor to provide natural pedal assistance.
On the battery side, Miloo will use LG 21,700 cells for maximum energy density and efficiency. Other features include a 14-speed Kindernay-tuned hub drivetrain, as well as an optional carbon belt drive from Gates. Users can even install a dual battery on their bike for longer rides.
In terms of pricing, it’s not yet known whether there will be a big difference between the two versions. While we already know that the carbon fiber Miloo Xplorer Beast costs around $12,600 USD, the price of the “greener” version, made from recycled Nespresso capsules, remains unknown at the time of writing. That said, we’ll know soon enough, as summer is upon us.